# Cosmos 415
**Wikidata**: [Q13419493](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13419493)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cosmos-415

## Summary  
Cosmos 415 (also written Kosmos 415) is a Soviet‑built Strela‑1M communications satellite that was launched on 7 May 1971 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle. Its COSPAR designation is 1971‑041E and it is catalogued internationally as satellite 05214.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 7 May 1971 (14:20 UTC).【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M rocket, a Soviet launch system.【source】  
- **Launch site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Instance of the Strela‑1M series (a low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellite).【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1971‑041E.【source】  
- **International designator (SCN):** 05214.【source】  
- **Alternative name:** Kosmos 415 (alias).【source】  
- **Significant event recorded:** Rocket launch at 14:20 UTC on 7 May 1971 from Plesetsk Site 132.【source】  
- **Wikidata sitelink count:** 4 language editions (Hungarian, Macedonian, Serbo‑Croatian, Serbian).【source】  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Cosmos 415 launched?  
**A:** Cosmos 415 was launched on 7 May 1971 at 14:20 UTC.  

### Q: What launch vehicle carried Cosmos 415 into orbit?  
**A:** The satellite was launched aboard a Soviet Kosmos‑3M rocket.  

### Q: From which site did Cosmos 415 lift off?  
**A:** The launch took place at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, in the former Soviet Union.  

## Why It Matters  
Cosmos 415 represents a component of the Soviet Union’s Strela‑1M satellite constellation, a series designed to provide low‑cost, store‑and‑forward communications for military and civilian users. By deploying this satellite, the USSR expanded its ability to relay data across vast territories, enhancing command‑and‑control capabilities during the Cold War era. The launch demonstrated the reliability of the Kosmos‑3M launch vehicle and the operational readiness of the Plesetsk launch complex, both critical assets for Soviet space operations. Understanding Cosmos 415’s specifications and launch context helps illustrate the broader strategy of Soviet satellite networking and the technological infrastructure that underpinned it.

## Notable For  
- Being a Strela‑1M class satellite, part of a series that provided early Soviet communications capability.  
- Launch on the proven Kosmos‑3M rocket, showcasing the vehicle’s versatility for low‑Earth‑orbit payloads.  
- Utilisation of Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 132, a key northern launch facility for military satellites.  
- Precise launch timing recorded at 14:20 UTC, reflecting meticulous mission documentation.  
- Inclusion in multiple language Wikipedia entries, indicating international interest and documentation.

## Body  

### Overview  
Cosmos 415 (Kosmos 415) is catalogued as satellite 05214 in the international Space Catalog Number (SCN) system. It belongs to the Strela‑1M class, a line of low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellites developed by the Soviet Union.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 7 May 1971, 14:20 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Kosmos‑3M, a two‑stage launch rocket used extensively for small payloads.  
- **Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132, located in the Russian north‑west.  
- **Event:** The launch is recorded as a “rocket launch” event with the above qualifiers.

### Classification & Purpose  
- **Instance of:** Strela‑1M, indicating the satellite’s design for store‑and‑forward communications.  
- **Mission type:** While the specific payload details are not listed, Strela‑1M satellites were typically employed for data relay and messaging services within the Soviet military and scientific networks.

### Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1971‑041E – the international designation assigned by the Committee on Space Research.  
- **SCN:** 05214 – the numeric identifier used by tracking agencies.  
- **Aliases:** Kosmos 415 – an alternative name used in many Soviet satellite catalogs.

### Related Systems  
- **Strela‑1M class:** The broader family of communication satellites to which Cosmos 415 belongs.  
- **Kosmos‑3M rocket:** The launch vehicle class, a workhorse of Soviet space launches, also used for many other satellite deployments.

### Documentation & References  
All factual statements are drawn from the structured Wikidata entries and associated academic references, ensuring verifiable and citable information.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report